Herbert Wigwe Crash: U.S. Report Details What Went Wrong

The final report of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the February 2024 helicopter disaster that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, Doreen, Chizi, and three other people has been made public.
In spite of entering instrument meteorological conditions, the pilot chose to fly under visual flight rules, which led to spatial disorientation and a loss of control in the February 9, 2024, disaster.
Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, was among the six passengers who perished in the incident.

The final findings of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been released about the February 9, 2024, helicopter disaster on the California-Nevada border that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, the former CEO of Access Holdings, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and three other people.

The pilot’s choice to continue flying under visual flight rules (VFR) even after entering conditions that necessitated instrument navigation (IMC) was the primary cause of the incident, according to the investigation. Due to spatial disorientation, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which ultimately collided with the ground.
Former Nigerian Exchange Group Chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo was one of the six victims.

Additionally, the helicopter operator was chastised by the NTSB for inadequate pre-flight risk assessments, improper maintenance issue logs, and noncompliance with regulatory standards. One major issue was a malfunctioning radar altimeter, which was not fixed before the flight and was an essential tool for height awareness.

The altimeter was still not working, even after the helicopter’s mechanic had identified the problem and tried to fix it. Despite knowing about the issue, the pilot and the director of maintenance apparently continued with the trip.

When operating the helicopter in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), the pilot most likely suffered from spatial disorientation, which caused him to lose control of the aircraft and crash into the ground, according to the NTSB.

The examination also showed that the pilot and the flight following did not have a recorded conversation prior to departure regarding the weather or the unresolved technical issue, highlighting a breach in safety protocol and communication.

The NTSB stated that “the mechanic reported that the pilot and the Director of Maintenance (DOM) knew the radar altimeter was not working, but they still left at 1822 on the positioning flight to pick up the passengers.”

According to the board, the examination also revealed that the pilot and flight following exchanged communications after arriving to pick up the charter passengers, but “did not discuss the status of the radar altimeter or weather conditions.”